The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: k-vette on June 28, 2014, 09:46:14 AM
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I have several bikes, certainly more than I need in various stages of disrepair. I need to thin out the herd. Is it worth a little elbow grease and buying parts before selling?
I will keep my Gary Fisher mountain bike. (Purchased 2000 and still going strong.) As well as my wifes bike, trailer, and one Bianchi vintage road bike.
I also have a gt mountain bike from the mid 90s. It is in need of brakes, shifters, tires, seat, grips, and tune up. Its full suspension and won the national mtb championship the year it was released. People still look for them today. I got it for free.
Next is a Kamra by Nishiki road bike. Rides excellent and used it for many years. The rubber grips are getting sticky and need replacing. Its a bit tall for me so thats the only reason for keeping the bianchi instead. I will steal the good tires to keep on the bianchi (free) Rare and cant find a value on it. (Free to me)
Next is a raleigh vintage folding bike. Has some value, needs everything to ride, tires, shifter parts, etc (internal hub 3 speed). Brother gave it to me as a bday "present". Said I can do whatever I want with it.
So would you take the money and run for all as is? Im leaning toward new grips and tires on the nishiki since thats quick and easy. But its hard to say what fixed up vs not value is.
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my personal impression is that you'll get more money for a bike that's 'ready to ride' - enough to make up the difference in the cost of parts and the few hours you spend getting them tuned up. I'm basing this on the experience of my previous roommate, who worked in a bike shop and as a side hustle bought bikes in need of repair, fixed them up, and then re-sold them on craigslist. He made as much money doing this (per hour) as he did working at the bike shop.
of course, this is predicated on you having decent bike repair skills. I certainly couldn't do it (though I'm slowly learning) :-P
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In general what nereo said is true, moreso of cars. A running car is worth several hundred, if not thousands, depending on the car, more than one not running.
Depends on the likely market; some bikes will appeal to people who want to customize them, so this won't apply.
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I would Fix them…it won't cost that much and you can make the money back and more.
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Tough call. It's extremely difficult to get rid of used bikes in my experience. If they're not ready to ride, they pretty much have no chance. So, you put some money into them to get them ready to ride, but then you have to practically give them away anyways and probably don't even make your money back from the repairs.
That's why so many of us have too many bikes... I just don't have the heart to scrap what is a perfectly good bike, but I can't even give them away. Sigh.
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I think it depends on whether you:
1. Have a place to work on them efficiently (like a basement or garage with a stand...) and the tools.
2. Have the knowledge to fix them in a reasonable amount of time. If you need to "ride the learning curve" on every repair (you tubing), it will take up a lot of your time.
3. Have a pretty deep resale market. If you are rural, I have my doubts about getting much for them. Urban areas are great resale markets.
If not, list them "for parts" and get rid of them.
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Funny to see new replies! I posted this in 2014. I did fix up the bikes and sell them. I then purchased a cyclocross bike for what I thought would be "the last bike" I'd ever need.... then I started an ebike business in 2015. All downhill from there.... :)
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I think it is a good decision that you are thinking about the nishiki for its quickness & easiness. And also I have to say that nishiki will be the best one than all you have used in the earlier days.